Students from Years 4, 5 and 6 at Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo have had a glimpse into the realities of homelessness by ‘sleeping rough’ in their school hall as part of the Vinnies School Sleepout campaign.

“This is a fantastic experience for our older students to learn about the less fortunate in our community and to be aware of those in Canberra who are struggling with homelessness,” said Principal, David Austin. “Raising awareness was the main aim,” he said.

Over 100 students volunteered to brave a cold Canberra night without their usual comforts to raise money and awareness for those in Canberra without a permanent home.

Students played games and listened to some information about homelessness from members of the St Vincent de Paul Society and Year 8 students from St John Paul II College, Nicholls. They experienced the cold whilst listening to a story and concluded the evening with a liturgy before settling down for the night with nothing but a cardboard box for a mattress and a sleeping bag.